Air supply controlling means



May 30, 1933. w. H. KlTTo ET AL AIR SUPPLY CONTROLLING MEANS Filed Dc. 7. 1929 Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES- yMTENT oFF-*ICE WILLIAM H. KITTO, OF CANTON, ANI) ROY G. ROSHONG, OF NORTH CANTON, OHIO, ASSIG-NORS TO THE HOOVER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO 4 AIR SUPPLY CONTROLLINGI MEANS Application led December 7, 1929. Serial No. 412,416.

This invention relates to sprayers and similar devices, and more particularly to means for controlling the operation of a sprayer or other device which is supplied with a continuous current of air. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a sprayer which is of rugged and simple construction and which can be economically manufactured. A further object is to provide a device of the type which can be conveniently used, and in which the spraying action can be easily and effectively controlled between wide limits and any tendency to dribble will be avoided. 'A still further Vobject is the provision of simple and eilicient means for controlling theI flow of air from a source of continuous supply to a device of this kind by which the air flow can be varied as desired without materially varying the back pressure upon the air supplying means. Still further objects of the invention, as well as the novel features of con'- struction and operation, will be understood upon a reading of the following description of various embodiments of the invention shown inthe accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a sprayer embodying the invention; l

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section, partly in side elevation, of the structure shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary central longitudinal sectional view, of the structure shown in 35 Fi s. 1 and 2,7but showing a slightly modifie detail;

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary views in longitudinal section showing modified details of construction;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 7 and taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and

I Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a still further modification.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the main body of the device is in the form of a cover portion or top 11, having interrupted threads 12, and adapted to have detachably secured thereto a container 13, such as a jar of v50 glass or similar material, which is provided `preferably of a diameter suitable for convenient attachment to the hose commonly used for the attachment of dusting tools to such a cleaner, while the bore 15 of the blast tube is of much smaller diameter.

A liquid tube 17 is carried by the cover 11, being threaded into a hollowreinforcing member 18 which extends through the cover 11 and is riveted againstl the' upper face ofthe cover as shown at 18a. The lower end 19 of the-liquid tube preferably extends at a slight angle to the body o f the tube so as to reach well into the corner formed between the bottom and the wall of the container and provide for the atomization of practically all of the liquid content, and the tube 17 is held in its vertically adjusted position, and held from rotation by a nut 20 threaded upon its upper end and engaging the top of the cover v11. The blast tube 14 is formed with an annular shoulder 21, for a purpose which will be later described, and at that end adjacent the liquid tube 17 it receives a nozzle 22 which is frictionally mounted therein so as to be longitudinally and rotatably adjustable, the tube being machined to form a counterbore 23, if desired, to provide for accurate fitting of the nozzle. An opening 24 extends through the nozzle 22 in line with the upper end of the liquid tube 11, and the nozzle is preferably formed with diverging arms having bores 25 therein connecting with vconverging bores 26 to direct jets of airwhich will meet in line with the jet from the opening 24 but beyond the upper end of the liquid tube.

An'opening 27 is provided 4to permit air to pass from the blast tube 15 through the cover 11 to maintain a pressure on the surface of the liquid equivalent to that in the blasttube. y

As shown in Fig. 1, a vent opening 28 is provided in the cover 11, with a plate 30, pivoted at 3l, and turned up at 32 to facilitate manipulation, and having an opening 29 thereinby which the opening may be covered to any extent desired.v It will be apparent that by varying the effective size of the opening 28 one may vary the pressure maintained above the surface of the liquid during operation and thus vary the rate of iiow of the liquid.

In the operation of sprayers of this type it is desirable to avoid materially increasing theback pressure upon the air-supplying device, and valves which prevent the flow of air are objectionable not only for such rcason but also because of the dangerof sticking and the cost of their manufacture. ln the structure shown herewith the iow of air through the blast tube 14 is controlled by arranging the tubular handle 16, through which the air is supplied, substantially at right angles to the blast tube and forming an opening 33 in direct line with the direction v of flow in the handle portion and of such size as to afford no material restriction to the How. The opening 33 preferably narrows toward its forward end and both ends are rounded, the construction of the casting being preferably such that the ent-ire upper edge about the opening will lie in a plane almost perpendicular to the handle 16.

A bale 34 is positioned to extend rearwardly from the blast tube 14 into the tubular handle 16 and preferably presents a conveX surface to the flow of air. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the baie 34 is spoon-shaped and may be conveniently formed as a stamping having lateral portions 35 bent up to form a split ring which lits frictionally within the bore 15 and is slidable longitudinally therein, its rearward movement being limited by the shoulder 21 heretofore described. The .baiiie may likewise take theform shown at 36 in Figs. 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9, and be secured in place by a rivet 37, or other suitable means.

In order that the flow of air through the relatively larger opening 33 may be eiciently and conveniently controlled by the thumb of the hand in which the sprayer is supported, a {iap valve is yieldably supported .for movement toward said opening. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the Hap valve is formed from a tube o f rubber, or similar material, with a circular base portion 38 adaptedY to encircle and be frictionally held in position upon the tubular handle 16, and an integral tapering upper iap portion 39 which is normally positioned in extension I of the handle 16, but can be readilyv bent down by the thumb to gradually close thc allel sides of the flap portion 39a.v substan- -tially at right angles, so that the length of the line of bend is only slightly greater than the Width of 'the opening 33a. As shown in Fig. 5, the flap portion 396 maybe stifened, if desired, by a metal or other rigid plate 40 molded or otherwise secured therein.

In the construction shown in Fig. '6, the base portion 380 is split and surrounds the blast tube 14, being held in place by a spring clamp 41, andthe stifl'ening plate 400 is formed with holes, the material at the edge of such holes being bent, to hold the plate from being displaced. In Figs. 7 and 8 the opening 33dis in linewith the upper edge of the blast tube 14, and the rubber flap 39d' is formed with an annular lip 42 adapted to lit within the opening, the flap being mounted on a tongue 43 of spring metal haying lateral portions 44 bent down to forma clamp which will snap upon the blast tube 14. The iiap may also be hinged to the side wall of the handle 16 adjacent its upper end as-shown in Fig. 9, by riveting or otherwise securing a supporting member 45 to the handle 16 and pivotally securing to it a metal plate 46 which carries the fiap 39e, a spring 47 being mounted on the hinge pin and engaging the parts to hold the flap normally in elevated position above the opening 33e.

When the flap valve is open the flow of air upward through the tubular handle 16 meets practically no resistance, and there is no iow through the blast tube and hence no tendency for the liquid to dribble from the tube '17 even through the sprayer is tilted forward until the liquid level reaches the top of the tube. The baffle 34 or 36 causes a slight eddy which further assists in preventing iow 'through the blast tube. As the flap is moved toward the opening 33 it also approaches the upper edge of the baille and in the modifications shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 can be bulged inwardly toward the lip of the baie. The spacing between the upper Aedge of the baflie and the inner surface of flap will be greater at the sides than at the the lip, the area of the opening as a whole being less than that of the tubular handle 16, so that an eddy will be produced withinthe blast tube and can be altered by move- Ament of the valve flap.

The opening 27 permits .a pressure to bc upon the surface may be reduced to lower the rate at which the liquid will be atomized.

While various embodiments of the invention in a spraying device have been shown and described, it will be understood that the invention may be applied t0 any device in which it is desired to control the How of air from a continuous supply to eliect intermittent liow, and that many changes in details of construction may be made within the scope of the invention as defined bythe following claims.

We claim: l

l. An air-supply tube having angularlyl disposed portions one of which is adapted to act as a handle, there being an opening in the wall of said tube where said portions join, and means for controlling the iiow through said tube comprising a tubular member of resilient material fitting upon one portion of said tube and having an integral flap portion overlying said opening.

2. An air-supply tube having an opening in its wall and a rubber ring fitting upon and frictionally engaging said tube,- said ring having a Hap portion integral therewith overlying and normally spaced from said opening.

3. A sprayer device comprising an air supply tube having angularly disposedvportions one of which is adapted to act as a handle, said tube having a baiile therein adjacent the juncture of said portions and having an opening in its wall adjacent said baille, said baiiie being positioned to divert air through said opening, and a flap member resiliently supported upon the outside of said tube and overlying said opening.

4. An air supply tube comprising connecting angularly disposed portions, there` being anopening in the wall of said tube in line with the bore of that portion throughwhich the air first passes, a baffle disposed normall to prevent entry of air into the other o said portions, and meansfor varying the iow of air into the other of said portions comprising a flap resiliently held away from but movable toward said opening.

5. A sprayer comprising an air supply tube having angularly disposed portions one of which is adapted to act as a handle, said tube having an opening in its wall and a baflie within the tube adjacent such opening and normally directing air flow through said opening, a liquid container underlying a portion of said tube, a tube extending up- Ward from said container into the path of flow through said air supply tube, the upper portion of said container being continuously in communication with said air supply tube and having a vent to atmosphere.

6. 'A sprayer device comprising an air supply tube having an abrupt bend therein, there being an opening in the wall of said tube adjacent said bend, in line with and of said tube having an opening in its wall at`l the outside of the bend in said tube adjacent the juncture of said ortions, and a cup-shaped balile in said tu e adjacent said opening having its convex surface projecting laterally into the air stream in line with the .handle portion of said tube to direct air through said opening.

8. n air supply tube, said tube being bent and having an opening in its wall at the outside of the bend of' said tube, and means for controlling the How of -air through said tube comprising a flap positioned adjacent said opening 'and having a portion thereof frictionally' and resiliently engaging the outside of said tube and constituting the sole support for resiliently supporting said Hap for movement toward said openmg.

9. A sprayer device comprising an air supply tube having angularly disposed portions one of which is adapted to' act as a handle, saidtube having an. opening in its wall adjacent the juncture of said portions in line with the handle portion, and a bailie mounted in the other portion of said tube adjacent said opening and having a part thereof projecting into the handle portion inline with and spaced from the plane of said opening.

Si ned at North Canton, in the county of Star and State of Ohio, this 2nd day of December, A. D.' 1929.

WILLIAMH. KITTO.

ROY. G. ROSHONG. 

